Fighting Words

At school the next day, Trevor pinches Nevaeh’s back again as he gets up to sharpen his pencil. Della notices and trips Trevor as he returns to his seat, claiming it was an accident and telling Trevor to not be a “baby” (123). Ms. Davonte tells Della to keep her feet to herself. Della swears and then asks, “What about Trevor’s hands? He pinched Nevaeh!” (124). Nevaeh glares at Della, who mouths an apology. Ms. Davonte makes Della stay in at recess and gives her a note for Francine to sign.

When Della gets on the bus to the Y, she is unsure whether Nevaeh will want to sit together. Nevaeh tells her to sit down, and Della reiterates that Trevor should not be allowed to touch or hurt anyone. Nevaeh tells Della to stop fighting her battles for her.

Della thinks about how she wants to fight for others because Suki fought for her and she fights for herself, which is why Clifton is in jail. Della notes that it will be scary to testify against Clifton in trial but that “[she] got off easy. What he did was the worst few minutes of [her] life up until that time.